Clermont Auvergne has suffered a massive blow with the news that five of their players have been sidelined in the wake of their loss to Leinster on Sunday.

The Top 14 side crashed out of the Heineken Cup 19-15 to the current champions and while their time in that tournament has come to an end, the news that five of their players sustained injuries in that clash has the potential to derail their charge for the Top 14.

They are currently tied at the top with Toulouse but will have to make do without a host of players for their title run-in. Winger Julien Malzieu (calf), Jean-Marcellin Buttin (ankle), fullback Lee Byrne (knee), lock Nathan Hines (ribs) and flanker Julien Bonnaire (knee) are all injured.

Buttin and Bonnaire are likely to be out for three weeks while the other three's duration on the sidelines is yet to be confirmed.